Dispensing container



y 8, 1952 R. c. GOON 2,602,567

DISPENSING CONTAINER Filed Nov. 21, 1949 3 W0 mic r,

Patented July 8, 1952 UNITED STATES ATENT OFFICE 2,602,567 DISPENSING CONTAINER,

Robert Carl Goon, Toledo, Ohio Application November 21, 1949,'Serial No. 128,652

(01. zap-9a)v 1 Claim. 1

This invention relates to dispensing of congealed materials, especially ices and ice cream, and has to do with rendering more conveniently available bulk quantity from which service portions are to be taken.

This invention has utility when incorporated with single service bulk containers, as of the paper can, drum or canister type, as located in a freezer or cold storage cabinet, such as in association with a soda fountain. Opening of the insulated-wall cabinet exposes the open top of. a tubular bulk container, say for five gallon portion of ice cream, With such vessel or container in the range of say 9" in diameter and approximatelytwice that depth, the fountain attendant gripping a service portion gathering tool and reaching into the container thru the open top of the cabinet has full length of forearm entering the cabinet opening with the container contents hardly half removed.

Under the practice adopted for achieving the advantages of this invention, an intermediate or medial diaphragm or partition is located in the container. When this is accorded attention at the place of dispensing, the initially worked-in end as up, may have its side walls to some extent cleared of ice cream fragments. Thrusting of the diaphragm fully crosswise may cause its rim to act as a supplemental scraper for locating the undispensed bulk of the ice cream below the insert diaphragm; Upon establishing this minor volume for the container as a chamber more or less completely filled with the undispensed ice cream, such can is lifted from the cabinet. As out of the lid opening, the can is oriented, to lo cate what was the top, now downward. In the event there be a slip-on closure for each end of the container, that one which was at the bottom is now up and may be placed on the other end of the container, as dropped back into the cabinet, void container section down. The open upper end of the apparently full minor container section is now in proximity to the cabinet lid for dispensing regular service down to the diaphragm.

In carrying out the invention as herein disclosed, the diaphragm is provided with an anchoring control. With the paper side wall drum for the container, an item for discard as the ice cream'is taken therefrom, it is in order for the fountain attendant, first to remove the diaphragm and its control from the now-open ended tube, as the slip-on end closures are off. The diaphragm and its control are retained for reuse. The normal sanitation processes as current at the soda fountain for the service portion dispensers is desirably adopted for the diaphragm.

Referring to the drawings:

Fig. l is a front view from the behind-thecounter side of a soda fountain with an associated cooling or chill cabinet, portions being broken away to show bulk containers therein;

Fig. 2 is a side elevation, with parts broken away'of a paper drum or bulk ice cream congainer, with the ice cream about half taken there rom;

Fig. 3 is a medially-in-section view terminally in elevation of the drum of Fig. 2 in which there is introduced a diaphragm or minor-capacityestablishing partition for isolating the upper emptied section or chamber from the lower charged section;

Fig. i is a similar view of the same container, but oriented from the position shown in Fig. 3, and from which upper minor-chamber-section service portions of the ice cream have been removed;

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary plan view on an enlarged scale of the insertable diaphragm of Figs. 3, 4, from the control side thereof, showing in dotted lines the penetration point as withdrawable in reverse direction of turning; and

Fig. 6 is a side elevation of a portion of the operating knob, with the mounting details thereof shown in section.

A soda fountain unit is shown with spigots l for discharge into'cups or glasses as placed by the attendant on a ledge 2. Looking from the behind-the-counter side toward the cabinet, there is downward from the ledge 2 an inclined top 3, with removable closures or lids 4 to expose top openings 5 of bulk containers 6 in a cold storage or chill chamber 1 of the cabinet. An attendant grasping a service portion gathering tool 8 has full length of forearm 9 extending downward from the cabinet top portion 3 in a depth reach hardly to half the contents of the container 6. This down-reach for the operator or attendant is awkward, especially if there be requirement for further down operation. In the retail course of dispensing of ice cream and ices, it is important that the bulk reserve be in a chill chamber. To the extent that the service portion to be dispensed be in proximity to the opening 3, there is possible more rapid and convenient service to patrons.

The container drum or tube 6 may be a fiber or paper stock spiral wrap, say water proof and with appropriate lining suitable for congealed edible products, as ice'cream and ices such as of fruit or other flavors. This openended' tube 6 may have endless channel crimped anchor end trims l0. As a single chamber bulk unit, each end may be provided with a closure disk I I having an outer rim or flange l2, to effect snug slipon connection with the tube 6. Upon placing of a bulk fully charged container 6 with commodity |3 therein to be dispensed, such is fully up to the under side of the top end closure H, l2, as removed. This locates the commodity l3 in readily accessible distance when a lid 4 is thrown back. That is, the open end 5 of the fully charged container 6 is in proximity to the top 3 of the cabinet.

The normal dispensing operation byremoving service portions, takes away from the commodity l3 to leave a somewhat irregular region l4 -with a void or empty region l5 upward therefrom (Fig. 2).

As the depth for dipping out service portions becomes inconvenient to the attendant, there may or may not be clearing of the side walls of the region l5. This may be for dispensing in service portions, or a sort .of leveling off. In view of the fact that ice cream and ices in the congealing operation may have bulk increase of nearly double that for the liquid, it is important for the soda fountain operator that application of pressure. or crowding the bulk residue be kept to a minimum, for the service portions are usually volume measured, and as retaining the stage at congealing, normally are considered to have maximum of flavor or taste value in such unpacked state. While bearing this point or merchandising practice in mind, the attendant may insert the diaphragm.

A. disk I6 has centrally of one side and welded to respond as integrally therewith a short stem H with a groove l8 inward from its free end. Peripherally of the disk [6 and from its opposite sideis a slightly flaring flange I9. The disk l6 may be of light weight and thin sheet metal with reinforcement value arising from the flange l9 integral therewith. The preferred practice is to insert the disk IS in the opening 5 in a plane approximately at right angles to the axis of the drum or tube 6. In this operation, the flange l9 coacts in a close scraping relation to clear the inner wall of the region l5 of the tube 6 in moving such portion of the commodity |3 to approach a level state with the flange carrying face of the disk IB. Should the experience in practice be that the fit between the disk periphery and the inner face of the drum wall 6 be so close that resistanceis met in causing the disk so to descend due to non-escape of air from this piston operation, vent meansmay be adopted by a port or ports 20. These ports 20, preferably are sumcient. to allow the air to escape but so minor in dimension as not to tend to cause the ice cream or commodity 13 to ooze therethru.

A knob, grip or handle 2| has an axial recess 22 to fit over the stud or stem [1. A set screw 23 connects th grip 2| for rotation relatively to the disk l6 thru engaging the groove I8. In this assembly, the grip 2| is held. axially of the disk. IS with rotation on the stem l1 permitted to a limited degree.

Fixed with the disk 2| is a minor disk or actuator plate 24. The plate 24 is an operative means to lock or anchor the diaphram I6, effected as herein disclosed by an expansion device, with the drum 6. The device may comprise a plurality of elements, herein shown as three, with uniform angular distribution. in 120 spacing. Openings 25 are similarly uniformly spaced in the plate 24. Rivet ends 26 retain angle offsets 21 as upward thru the openings 25. The ofisets 21 are bearings for radially extending thrust arms 28.

Near the outer edge of the disk IS on the side thereof away from the flange l9, guide lugs 29 provide slide ways for the respective arms 28 inward from taper points 30 of the arms. From an outward thrust position (Fig. 5), the grip 2| may be given an angular twist or turn of say near to a retracted position 3| from this counterclockwise shifting. The recover, or reverse clockwise turning of the grip 2| may be to an extent of say 5 or 10 beyond radially aligning the direct radial direction for the arm 28 to bring a struck-up lug or stop 32 from the crank disk 24 against the arm 28. This is a limit throw by turning in the direction of the arrow 33, and in practice is a minimal 01 retraction for the point 30. Accordingly any loosening at rupture regions 34 does not free the arm from frictional engagement there, while the beyond-radial location is a sort of toggle lock against in-thrust from the point 30.

During the insertion of the diaphragm or pertition I6 into a container 6, the knob 2| isat its counterclockwise retracted limit as a positive held position with the points 30 radially inward from the disk l6 outer edge. Upon the diaphragm insertion or thrusting to th region of the material 3, and with the disk I 6 held at rightangle to the axis of the drum, a clockwise turn of the grip 2| completes setting for the diaphragm, as the stop 32 limit is reached.

This placing of the disk I6 as a diaphragm may be effected with the container 6 still in the cabinet chamber 1. There is thus provided, now at the lower portion or half, a charged container chamber 35, and thereabove an empty or void chamber 36. The attendant may now remove the twochamber or compartment container from the cabinet chamber 1, orient'the container and replace in the cabinet chamber 1. In the event there be slip-on closure I, I2, at end opening 3! remote from the opening 5, the removal of this closure may beefiected before lowering the twocompartment container back into the chamber 1. This removed cap or closure ll, I2, instead of a cut-out, may he slipped over the opening 5 to provide a bottom for the replaced container-to be reset in the chamber 1. Should there be any seepage or sifting of commodity past the insert partition Hi, this closure ll, [2, may serve as a sort of. cup or retainer to promote retention of desirable clean and sanitary conditions in the retailing operations. The now .top opening 31 is in convenient location at the top 3 of the soda fountain dispensing cabinet for service portions to be taken of the commodity l3 from the chamber 35. It follows that for this residual commodity l3 there is now retained ready access advantage in the dispensing from the chamber 35 as from the upper section of the original bulk chamber 6 in its full charge. The operation as disclosed relates to the sliding into the partially emptied bulk container of means providing an intermediate partition, as of possible advantage over congealingor otherwise establishing a plural chamber container for dispensing therefrom.

For chill-avoiding comfort in handling, the knob 2! may be of heat insulation composition or wood. The other portions of this re-useablediaphragm may be of metal, appropriately coated to conform to sanitary service. In this connection an. oiled paper wafer or similar facing may be on the flang side of the disk l6 and replaced from each use.

While as hereinbefore stated that the selectable placement partition may be of metal, ac-

- ceptable service is available from such unit even of plastic.

Due to the fact that the operator or attendant has in hand the grip 2| with a thrusting thereof down into the partially emptied container 6, any view of the disk arms is obstructed by the attendants forearm extending into the opening 5. As disclosed, the points 30 are retracted before lowering the disk 16. Upon reaching the descent limit, as for the commodity l3 to be against what is then the lower or flange-carrying face of the disk IS, the operator may give a clockwise turn to the grip 2|. Notwithstanding inability to see just how far this is done as to whether there is full thrust or the points .30 protrude, there is the feel response as the stop 32 precludes further grip clockwise turning. It is now up to the operator to remove the container, which now has the residual commodity sealed 01? from top access, from the cabinet. Preferably this may be by gripping the rim ID, or even by an up-pull on the grip 2|. However this latter course depends upon how tough the scheme for resisting exterior of the container inm thrust upon the points 30, establishes a stable operating condition for the vender of ice cream, or other service portions from bulk type of containers as herein disclosed.

What is claimed and it is desired to secure by Letters Patent is:

A tubular container open at opposite ends and having pierceable side walls and a uniform cross section throughout its length, separate removable closures for said ends, and an insertable partition corresponding in shape and size to the internal cross section of said container and slidable axially in said container to scrape the inner wall of said container, anchoring means on said partition comprising a plurality of radially movable outwardly extending piercing elements mounted on said partition, and a centrally arranged manually actuable means connecting the inner ends of said piercing elements for extending and retracting said elements, the elements when extended piercing said walls of said container to anchor said partition in place, whereby said partition may be fastened inwardly from the ends of said container to divide the container into two parts each of which parts may be entered from a different end of said container, so that after the contents of the container are partly removed from one end thereof the partition may be inserted in that end and anchored in place onto the top of remaining contents in the container and the container may be inverted and its other end opened to remove said remaining contents from the other end of said container with the inserted partition now acting as the bottom of the contents now remaining in the container.

ROBERT CARL GOON.

5 REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 744,026 Bertelsmann Nov. 17, 1903 839,353 Wiedemann Dec. 25, 1906 1,326,087 Parish Dec. 23, 1919 1,634,569 Bray July '5, 1927 2,906,358 Gautier Oct. 19, 1937 2,172,457 Schwartz Sept. 12, 1939 2,237,528 Marasso Apr. 8, 1941 2,418,113 Fletcher Apr. 1, 1947 2,519,271 Miller Aug. 15, 1950 

